to not understand why people spend money to pollute their homes with pointless chemicals?

[tomorrowisanotherdate]

scent boosters, to go in laundry, air fresheners that squirt puffs of pollutants at you - the tv is full of adverts for these things, so presumably someone is buying them. I just don't get it though. Loading your family's home atmosphere with a load of unnecessary and unpleasant air pollutants, and paying for the privilege? Why?

Lavender oil is chemicals too, as is air, everything you eat, breathe and are is chemicals.

Because they smell nice to them that’s why they buy them

All perfume smells like urine to me

I can taste these chemicals in my mouth, it’s vile!

I have a condition where I’ll vomit from artificial smells. I have to buy everything scent free. Why are scent free products twice the price?

I can't stand the smell of most fabric conditioners although there's a couple I like. I'm scared of plug inside because of the health and fire risk.
I do love a nice smelling home though and will sometimes burn a good quality scented candle, oils or incense.
I have found my air purifier helps keep the place smelling neutral. And neutral is good in a world of smelly dog and farts.

I don't use these type of products as there is now a known link to mental health and physical health issues from many of the common ingredients.

I understand some people like the smell, but I like my central nervous system more.

Indoor air pollution is rising, both due to using more products and having more sealed houses e.g. double glazing.

https://madesafe.org/blogs/viewpoint/toxic-chemicals-in-air-fresheners#:~:text=In%20such%20cases%2C%20primary%20ingredients,acid%2C%20and%20methyl%20vinyl%20ketone.

Insert toxic before the word chemicals. Lavender oil does not contain the above. Search air freshener chemicals toxins- it’s horrific. The air in my house will have what I can’t do anything about but it does not have an additional continuous menu of toxins pumped into the air,clinging on to soft furnishings etc with nowhere to escape, constantly breathed not only in to my lungs but those of young children too.

You can eat lavender, rose, orange etc. I wouldn’t be eating any of the toxic chemicals in air fresheners.

I can't make sense of this.

I fear you’re being grossly naive. If you were to breath these in nonstop, perhaps a little like a vape is used, do you honestly think they’d do you no harm? Some people are more sensitive than others, which is illustrated perfectly by those that can smoke cigarettes until they are 90, but this does not mean cigarettes do you no harm.

I for one would never add these additional chemicals to my home. Yes pollution exists, particularly those of us that live in cities. The evidence against air pollution in cities is well known, but to mask and enhance the unnatural load seems mad. To believe big business would do you no harm, well…

I use soy wax melts everyday. I don't buy plug ins or use essential oils though.

I would do open the windows every morning and would do it more, but we have a farm about 200m away and I'd rather my house didn't smell of slurry

well, I am a scientist and I have met Brian Cox, so I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
Again, show me where I have used the word "chemicals" wrongly - you can't - cos I haven't.

Dog people
Smoke people
Vape people

I wonder if pp meant to quote the post about 'old' people and lavender smells, when claiming it was ageist?

No I really can't. Expensive, toxic to humans, massively environmentally damaging, and smells deeply unpleasant. But even if you like the smell, how does that justify the money, and the damage to the environment and to human health?

I can't understand why anyone does it. No understanding at all. And no one on this thread has come up with anything other than "I like the smell" which just blows my mind. Polluting the world because you like the smell? Or even "it smells clean" which is doesn't. It smells contaminated, which it is. If you think that is the smell of "clean" then you have been brain washed by advertising.

Well then, I guess you will just have to accept that the answer is beyond your comprehension. I don't think it can be explained any more simply than it has been.

If you were to breathe lots of things in constantly or use lots of substances at a higher level/dose/concentration than suggested then of course they'd be more harmful - that in itself doesn't make the substance bad or toxic at lower levels.
I personally find plug-ins, scent boosters, some air fresheners nausea inducing and don't use them, but also try to keep a realistic perspective on those who use them in limited ways.

I think it’s about education OP. People don’t realise how great big business is at brain washing us, taking our money, and NOT worrying about harm.

’They sell it, it must be OK’ is a mistaken belief.

I agree with your premise, but is something being plugged in and pumping out the scent constantly ‘limited’?

Of course there are degrees, but who knows how genetically susceptible we are to these pollutants.

The plug-ins are not designed to be used 24/7, you are meant to turn them off (and don't some have some sort of timer on them too - I'm sure I've seen that?). You're not supposed to constantly spray air fresheners or burn candles or anything else either.

I occassionally burn scented candles and I love the smell of clean washing

However we went to an air bnb last year and every room had a glade plug in. The smell was so overpowering and imo not nice. So I unplugged them all and put them back when we left. The only other time I've been anywhere with overpowering plug ins was a place that smelled of wet dog and I presume they were trying to mask it.

You don't.

I like my scents and boosters. Each to their own.🤷‍♀️

It's also a mistaken belief to call anything synthetic toxic and anything natural safe.
Of course advertising has made people think they need things they don't, but that's true of pretty much every non-essential good!
I still think @tomorrowisanotherdate is a secret Enjo rep because she's using a lot of their jargon. 30 quid for a cloth, which you need loads of, now that is a marketers dream. Apparently it's 'chemical free' too.